She's Come Undone
Written: Feb 24 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Holds things together
Cons: Dispenser doesn't work the way it should
The Bottom Line: The tape is great. The dispenser is this close to worthless.
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| mjfrombuffalo's Full Review: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANU. Scotch Satin Tape |
She's come undone
She climbed a mountain that was far to high
and when she found out she couldn't fly,
it was too late... - The Guess Who
OK, just taking on this review-a-day challenge was probably evidence that I wasn't in my right mind to begin with, but now I'm officially unhinged. Why else would I be stooping to review 3M Scotch Mailing Tape? But, staying true to the Epinionater oath, the following is a real review by a real user of a real product.
3M Scotch Mailing Tape is clear, shiny plastic tape about 2" wide. The tape itself is pretty strong once it's applied to a clean, dry surface, and does not curl up or peel off at the edges and ends. Since it's clear, it's great for packages going in the mail. Helpful Hint: After writing the address label, apply 3M Scotch Mailing Tape directly over the label, covering everything written. This way, if the package gets wet, the ink on the label won't run and your package has a better chance of going where you want it to go.
You'll note I said the tape is good "once it's applied." Well there's the rub; this tape comes with a dispenser that disgusts and discourages. The tape is meant to go through these two little notches and past a serrated blade, which you use to cut the tape at the desired length. It's supposed to work like those professional packing tape dispenser gun-like thingies that make the job look so effortless when the guy at Mailboxes Etc. wraps something up. This dispenser fails miserably at recreating that experience in the privacy of your own home. Some of the things that are likely to happen instead:
* The tape won't go smoothly through those two little notch things, coming out of the notches altogether and sticking back to the roll, causing you to play "find the end of the tape" for a few minutes;
* The tape tangles up on itself, causing you to cut off and waste a large section of tape;
* The tape doesn't stick out far enough past the blade for easy press-roll-and-cut application, causing you to have to reach past the blade for the tape (pulling the tape gently past those two little notches and hoping you don't pull the tape out of its slot);
* The blade doesn't cut the tape despite twisting the applicator around, or cuts part of the tape only and dispenses more as you move the dispenser around trying to get the blade in contact with the rest;
* The dispenser snaps and becomes a useless appendage in your way as you try to get to the tape.
If you have good tape karma, you can seal up the box with Grandpa's birthday present and have it all set for mailing without any of the above happening. Every once in a while I've had good tape karma, but usually at least one of the above-mentioned events will take place and I'll get increasingly irritated. However, once the tape is on the box, all is well with the world. Hubby and I have used this as packing tape with no boxes bottoming-out. We've used it to mend hardcover and paperback books. It can be used as an industrial-strength tape with good results. It's just getting it on the item in the first place without coming undone yourself in the process.
*****
SCROLL ALERT: Incredibly detailed information not needed by many
*****
For those who absolutely, positively think a tape review is unacceptable without them, the stats are listed below.
3M Scotch Mailing Tape
Product Size: 2" wide, 22.2 yards long
* Polypropylene tape
* Meets U.S. postal regulations
* Split, burst and moisture resistant
* 3M stands for Minnesota, Mining and Manu? Who knew?
Manufacturer's Website:
http://www.3m.com
(The website also includes "The History of the 3M Company" from 1900 to present, and "The Life and Times of the 3M Logo." No lie.)
No animals were harmed in the writing of this review, but this tape makes an excellent lint remover when wrapped sticky-side out around your hand. Pat all the cat hair on your blazer with your tape-covered hair and you're ready to go! (Not for use removing hair directly from the cats.)
*****
END SCROLL ALERT: Incredibly detailed information not needed by many is done
*****
This review is the twenty-fourth installment of "Around My House in 28 Days," my response to the challenge leveled by amykhar. The challenge is to post one review every day for the whole month of February. Well, at least it's a short month. I'm starting at my door and going counter-clockwise around the house, reviewing whatever's in sight (and on this site). So far it's been the bathroom, then the kitchen, then the living room, the bedroom, and now the great outdoors...
Liked my review? Hated it? Leave a comment!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mjfrombuffalo
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 67
Trusted by: 32 members
About Me:
Not dead, just lurking
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